Stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic, the Egyptians have been spending more of their lives online. Egypt has witnessed a 12% increase in fixed-line internet use during Ramadan, bringing the hike rate to 99% since the nationwide curfew has begun a few months ago, but how have the people used the internet in their daily lives during the holy month? Accessing rate of electronic learning sites affiliated with the ministries of education and higher education has increased to 19% in Ramadan, bringing the rise rate to 395% since the beginning of curfew, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) said on Monday. Video streaming went mainstream in Ramadan seeing a use increase of 292%, bringing the use rate of such sites to 315% since the start of the curfew. For example, Shahid, a streaming giant under MBC Group, was used 157% more, while online gaming increased by 75%. Tik Tok witnessed a slight increase in use during Ramadan by 24%, while YouTube use rates increased by 115%. As for social media and messaging applications, NTRA said that there was a 67% increase in the use of Snapchat, 27% increase in the use of WhatsApp, 44% growth in the use of Facebook, and 12% increase in using Instagram. NTRA highlighted that Zoom video communications app witnessed a significant use increase in Ramadan of 3456%. While the use of Telegram instant messaging app increased by 1100% during the same period.
